Washington, D.C
The Washington Post newspaper released a shocking report today detailing the record-breaking avalanche of money pouring into federal election campaigns in the weeks before the November 2nd elections. Spending totals are on track to exceed a record-breaking $2 billion in political contributions and related spending for the 2010 elections. Shadowy and obscure political groups appear to be spending almost $400 million dollars in the final weeks before the election, with the vast majority of it used to attack Democrat members of Congress viewed by big business as "vulnerable."
Commenting on this corruption and its dangers for working people, UE General Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Klipple said, "Corporations, millionaires, billionaires, and their front groups are now pouring an ocean of last minute money into federal election races and our corrupt election system. They intend to buy control of Congress. They are investing in what they hope will be a Republican Party takeover of Capitol Hill. We have seen this before, and we know what attacks will come as a result -- if they succeed. Attacks on unions, on workers, on our jobs, on our wages, on our health care, on our pensions, on Social Security, along with more layoffs, more tax cuts for the super rich, you name it. I urge every UE member to redouble efforts to turn back this corrupt attempt to buy control of Congress."
Klipple continued, "Let's also remind those Democrats who wasted most of the 111th Congress seeking "bipartisanship" with Republicans that we will no longer tolerate this dangerous nonsense. Our union warned very clearly more than two years ago that this day would come if Democrats fell -- or jumped -- into the obvious bipartisanship trap set for them by Congressional Republicans. Working people want to see progress on the jobs front, on the health care front, and in defense of our retirement and Social Security. Working people are tired of propping up Democrats again and again who then refuse to lead and instead waste entire sessions of Congress chasing bipartisanship mirages."
Please visit the main UE web page and click on the section entitled "Vote! November 2 We Can't Afford Another 1994..." and download both educational leaflets for use with UE members in your worplace.